ArcMap

ConvertLinearUnits

Available with Production Mapping license.

Summary

Converts native data units to linear units such as meters, kilometers, and miles.

Discussion

This function is useful for converting the native data units to units that are easier to measure. For example, if the data is in decimal degrees, it is easier to identify a minimum distance value in kilometers.

Syntax

ConvertLinearUnits (length_value, layer)
ParameterExplanationData Type
length_value

The number of units and the unit of measure to be used, for example, 1000 meters.

String
layer

The layer whose units will be converted.

Layer

Code sample

ConvertLinearUnits example

This script converts the Facilities features to meters.

import arcpy
import arcpyproduction
from arcpyproduction import generalization

# set environment
arcpy.env.workspace="c:/Data/LocalGovernment.gdb"

# Check out Production Mapping license
arcpy.CheckOutExtension("Foundation")

# Define variables
inFeatures="ReferenceData/FacilitySite"
inFeatLayer="Facilities"

# create a feature layer
arcpy.MakeFeatureLayer_management(inFeatures,inFeatLayer)

# Execute ConvertLinearUnits
value=generalization.ConvertLinearUnits("100 Meters", inFeatLayer)

# describe inFeatLayer to determine its linear units
desc=arcpy.Describe(inFeatLayer)
sr=desc.spatialReference
if sr.linearUnitName != '':
    unit=sr.linearUnitName
    print "Converted meters to {0} {1}".format(value,unit)
else:
    print "Converted meters to {0}".format(value)

Related topics